Hunting for the best budget video camera? It’s a challenging time for everyone, budget-wise, and if you want to shoot great videos without forking out a fortune, it pays to do your research. There are absolutely great cameras out there that will allow you to capture high-quality video – you just have to know which ones they are.
We’ve divided this guide into sections based on camera type. First, we deal with action cameras, tiny waterproof models that are great for travel and extreme sports, with a fixed wide-angle lens. Next, we’ve included a dedicated video camcorder – an all-in-one solution for casual use with a big zoom that that great for videoing distant subject.
After that we’ve included a fixed-lens compact camera, offering high-quality video features in a small package. Lastly, we’ve included some mirrorless camera options, which will give you the greatest quality and flexibility, but at a higher cost (and where you may pay extra for the lens).
So, let’s get down to it and count off the best budget video cameras…
Jon Stapley
Jon spent years at IPC Media writing features, news, reviews and other photography content for publications such as Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera in both print and digital form. With his additional experience for outlets like Photomonitor, this makes Jon one of our go-to specialists when it comes to all aspects of photography, from cameras and action cameras to lenses and memory cards, flash diffusers and triggers, batteries and memory cards, selfie sticks and gimbals, and much more besides.
Best budget action camera
If you're looking for near-new specs, but on a budget then the GoPro Hero10 Black is the best action camera to pick thanks to its 5K footage and impressive image stabilization. Read more below
Best budget point and shoot
If you want a camera that can take great images at long range, and still fit in your pocket, this is the one for you, which has incredible 40x zoom. Read more below
Best budget 4K mirrorless
This is our top recommendation as a beginner camera - and its advanced autofocus and 4K resolution make it a great budget choice for video too. Read more below
Best budget all-rounder
6. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
Best budget all-rounder If you want a modern camera but have a budget over $500/£500 then this is a camera that one of the best all-rounders for the price. Read more below
The best budget video cameras you can buy
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Action cameras
Best budget action camera
(Image credit: Basil Kronfli/Digital Camera World)
The GoPro Hero10 Black is now three generations old, having been replaced by the Hero 11 Black, Hero 12 Black, and Hero 13 Black. However, this 2021 model is a great budget by and unlike older models has a front-facing screen, which helps me line up shots perfectly. Plus, its G2 processor makes the interface incredibly responsive compared to its predecessor.
My standout feature is its capability to record 5.3K 60p using GoPro's HyperSmooth 4.0 video stabilization which is incredible, and let's not forget it can shoot 23-megapixel photos too.
Now, the GoPro Hero 10 might be a bit more than what I need if I just want a helmet cam for safety purposes. However, if I'm after a camera that can record super-smooth, high-quality video, it's definitely a good choice, especially when I can snag it at the right discount.
There are loads of budget action cameras out there, but it can be a minefield of false economy. Just because something is cheap, doesn’t mean it’s worth it! However, the Akaso Brave 7 LE is the best cheap action camera that justifies its cost.
With 4K 30p video (no 60p, but still not bad), it can capture footage of good-enough quality for most purposes, and it even squeezes in something the GoPro Hero 8 Black is missing – a front-facing selfie screen for bloggers.
The stabilization system, while not a patch on GoPro’s, does the job just fine and makes the camera much more usable hand-held. As we said in our review, this is “a great value action camera for all-round use.”
When it comes to video, sometimes I just want something straightforward and hassle-free, and that's where the Sony HDR-CX405 camcorder comes in perfectly for me. Weighing just 215g with the battery loaded, it's incredibly easy to handle with just one hand.
I really appreciate its powerful 30x optical zoom lens, which offers great versatility. And if I need to get even closer, I can push it further with the 60x digital zoom, giving me plenty of shooting options.
What's really handy is the Intelligent Auto mode, which takes the guesswork out of settings by automatically selecting the right ones for me. It's as simple as point and shoot, which is fantastic for someone like me who prefers a no-fuss approach.
Now, it's worth noting that the sensor on this camcorder is smaller compared to other types of cameras. This becomes noticeable, especially in low-light situations, where the video can get a bit grainy and noisy. But overall, for its simplicity and ease of use, the Sony CX405 is just what I need.
NB. As the Sony CX405 is no longer on sale in the UK, we recommend the Panasonic V180 as a great alternative - it's a bit bigger but for that you get a longer-lasting battery.
If you're after a point-and-shoot camera with incredible zoom capabilities, look no further than the Canon PowerShot SX740 HS – with its focal range equivalent to a full frame 24-960mm! It has a 20.3MP 1/2.3-inch sensor and an LCD screen, which can be flipped to face the front making it perfect for selfies. What we love about this, is that unlike bridge cameras with bigger zooms, this really is a pocket-sized camer.
It has a maximum continuous burst shooting rate of 10fps, and it can also film video in 4K. (The Canon PowerShot SX730 HS can be found slightly cheaper if you don't need 4K video and it still has Full HD recording.) The image quality and autofocus performance on this camera is pretty good, and overall I rate this as an excellent camera for the price.
This is Canon's entry model to its impressive range of EOS mirrorless cameras and lenses. It is our favorite beginner camera, as it offers such an affordable entry point into enthusiast photography. Some low-cost rivals use old technology - but the R100 has impressive autofocus capabilities - and can automatically detect a subject's eyes and focus on them, making it great for shooting interviews or family footage. You can shoot 4K - but to have to make do with a cropped image, and an an impaired autofocus performance. You can live with this, however - and there are no such inconveniences if you shoot in Full HD instead. Crucially, however, unlike some other models, this camera can capture video in in a vertical orientation as well as horizontally, making it a suitable camera choice for TikTok fans.
Another beginner-friendly Micro Four Thirds camera option, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a hugely stylish camera that also has video tech where it counts. Capable of shooting 4K video at 30p, it also boasts Olympus’s 5-axis stabilization system, which is one of the most capable on the market, and makes it super-easy to get smooth footage shooting handheld.
You’ve also got a flip-down screen for vlogging purposes, making it easy to film yourself, and the autofocus on the E-M10 IV is reliably accurate. We would have liked a mic port, but given that this is a more expensive camera anyway, budget users likely won’t be springing extra cash for a microphone. It’s a capable all-in-one video setup.
You aren’t going to get all the top-line features when buying a budget video camera, so it’s important to focus on what you can get. Here are the key things to look out for:
Resolution: the quality of the video, measured by pixels. While 4K is nice if you can get it, for budget users, Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) will do the job just fine.
Frame rate: How many frames per second the camera shoots when recording video, In budget video terms, 30p is fine, 60p is good, and 120p and above is useful for slow-motion – nice if you can get it, but not essential.
Zoom range: This can be useful for run-and-gun video shooting. Camcorders will tend to have considerable zoom capabilities, other cameras less so. Action cameras don't have zooms, as they have a fixed wide-angle lens.
Waterproofing: If you’re going to be taking your camera into wet conditions, you need to think about waterproofing. Action cameras and tough compacts are going to be your best bet here.
How we test
How we test cameras
We test different types of camera in different ways. We test mirrorless cameras in both in real-world shooting scenarios and in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our lab tests measure resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis across the camera's ISO range. For camcorders and action cameras, our tests are predominantly done in the field – shooting video in a variety of situations, and comparing the results with those we have seen from the hundreds of other video cameras we have tested over the years. Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World.
Jon spent years at IPC Media writing features, news, reviews and other photography content for publications such as Amateur Photographer and What Digital Camera in both print and digital form. With his additional experience for outlets like Photomonitor, this makes Jon one of our go-to specialists when it comes to all aspects of photography, from cameras and action cameras to lenses and memory cards, flash diffusers and triggers, batteries and memory cards, selfie sticks and gimbals, and much more besides.
An NCTJ-qualified journalist, he has also contributed to Shortlist, The Skinny, ThreeWeeks Edinburgh, The Guardian, Trusted Reviews, CreativeBLOQ, and probably quite a few others I’ve forgotten.
